Supervisor's Toolkit

• Planning and Documentation
• Creating Effective Member-Supervisor Relationships
• Monitoring and Evaluating Members
  • Expectations & Goals
  • Ongoing Monitoring
    • Supervising Members From Afar
    • Biweekly Reporting from Members
    • Monthly Check-in Meetings
    • Member Reporting Systems
    • Monthly Reporting and Reflections
  • Performing Member Evaluations
• Working With Host Sites

Home > Supervisor's Toolkit > Monitoring and Evaluating Members > Ongoing Monitoring > "Barn Raising"

"Barn Raising"

An innovative tool for monthly meetings

Melissa Burwell of the Minnesota Alliance With Youth has 60 AmeriCorps members sprinkled around the state. About 40 percent of her members provide direct service while the rest coordinate volunteers and leverage resources.

Every month she gathers groups of 8-15 members--without their supervisors--in different geographic locations. "We share stories about challenges and frustrations, which lets us problem solve together. We call the process 'barn raising.' We always go over their evaluation: what they need to keep track of and where they are in their civic engagement plans. We also take care of some housekeeping, do community building activities, and work on specific skills like instructing students with disabilities."

The monthly meetings last five hours. Three times a year, Melissa brings all of her members together.

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